Big Local Rep’s Update

October – December 2016

As your Big Local Rep, every three months I share my thoughts on local area progress with you as residents and with the central team managing the national programme. Your comments and thoughts are always welcome.

Looking back

Running things

The partnership meets each month and residents are welcome. The current three year plan is going well. The spendometer on the website front page shows exactly what has been spent and committed while new measures have been agreed with Enthusiasmas the Local Trusted Organisation to improve the regular reporting of financial information. Activity reports are received, reviewed and approved by the partnership.

In recent months, the partnership has reviewed the local landscape to inform future direction and emerging priorities. It has reviewed and refreshed the constitution and clarified the election and voting process for the community event and AGM on 10 January 2017. It has explored the idea of Allenton Big Local Associates as a wider circle of people who can help with the running of things.

The partnership is well connected to the wider Big Local programme. It contributed to some short films which was an excellent model of collaboration between a local area and the national programme. One member took part in a Big Local event in October in Uttoxeter on Community Health and Wellbeing. Partnership members presented at a Big Local event in December in Sheffield on managing workers. Allenton is looking forward to hosting the shared learning event about young people in October 2017.

The biggest recent success has been the second Christmas market on Saturday 17 December with parents from NACRO at the heart of organising it. Live reindeer and Santa’s grotto, hot drinks and cookies, carol singing and a warm welcome all contributed to this being a great event for residents of all ages and another fine event achieved through strong partnership working including with Derby Homes and NACRO.

Recent progress on St Martin’s community hub is also heartening. The architect’s concept drawings have been approved by the church council and the community centre working group which includes members of the Allenton Big Local partnership. The architect has started the technical drawings and discussions with the Council planning department. The technical drawings will allow for costings. The community centre working group will start planning how the centre will be managed and used.

For helping create opportunities for training and employment, Cath Harcula from Derby Adult Learning presented the partnership with a Certificate of Achievement from the Festival of Learning. Looking ahead, Bombardier has won the rolling stock contract for Crossrail and the partnership has agreed funding to giving unemployed people an opportunity to complete training with Qualitrain so that they can be put forward for a job with Bombardier (although there are no job guarantees).

Looking ahead

Allenton Big Local’s community meeting and AGM are on 10 January, leading it is hoped to new recruits to the partnership. Work will start on the community hub, anticipated to take up to six months. Consultation will continue over the future of the library and the market, with Allenton Big Local taking an active interest in both these valued community assets.

Working well

Key partners continue to work closely and effectively with the partnership, delivering quality and much needed support and opportunities to residents. Recent achievements include those from NACRO regarding children and families, Enthusiasm with young people, Derby Homes on the community hub and Derby Adult Learning on training and employment.

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